First around10 but overall I think14 (I was not in charge of counting)

first cloudy then sunny and hot and hunid

Fine Day of Ferns, Fast Feet, and Fickle Butterflies

Ten brave souls disembarked at the designated station, slightly dazed from the slow train journey. Outside, we rendezvoused with two more wanderers, bringing our number to a mathematically satisfying dozen. A bonus hiker appeared briefly like an unexpected subplot—intent on a sunnier route but soon deterred by the forecast’s glare. Then, they opted for the metaphysical exercise of Waiting for Someone Else, who materialized from a later train.

The morning air was warm and tactfully humid and the skies hung low with a vague sense of indecision until lunch, when they cleared up as if moved by our sandwiches. The route, sensibly shaded by woods and groves, spared us the worst of the sun’s ambitions.

Butterflies flitted across our path in great numbers, performing spontaneous aerial choreography. Regrettably, our resident butterfly expert was not with us, leading to wild speculation about species, genus, and the existential motivations of moths, and AI’s ability to identify them.

Lunch offered choices: some retreated to a pub with lightning-speed service, slightly shocking prices, and food so good it almost justified the economics. Others sat outside with sandwiches and smiles, proving that happiness sometimes comes in foil (or plastic).

Post-lunch, the laws of group hiking dynamics took effect. A phenomenon emerged: The Fast Three—a breakaway formation driven by rhythm, instinct, and perhaps an unconscious longing for cake. I will admit (without humility) to being one of them. We picked up the pace, weaving through high ferns and along sandy pine paths with the enthusiasm of well fed gazelles.

Frequent phone messages confirmed what our increasing solitude already suggested: the rest of the group was a respectable distance behind.

As our circular route curved back toward familiar vistas, we glimpsed our morning’s path from afar. A steep hill led us to The Temple, where we paused to contemplate architecture, hydration, and the noble art of sitting down.

Not far on, we encountered World War Two training trenches—silent now but deeply etched with history. Soon after, a birch tree cracked and split dramatically by the main path, as if to add a moment of arboreal theater to the proceedings.

The Fast Three, having maintained our brisk trajectory, reached the town with time to spare for coffee and cakes in a delightful courtyard café, and then proceeded to the station, where we waited for the train in a blissfully cool waiting room, discussing the mysteries of track changes with an employee. We caught 17:17 to London Victoria.

In sum: a splendid day out.

Eight emerged from the posted train and were joined by a car driver at Dorking station. We picked up the walk author as he alighted from his car near Dorking West. Another walker had taken a slightly later train from Victoria and caught up with us at lunchtime making a total of 11 on this walk. It was cold _bright_and_sometimes_sunny. Fields covered in white frost amplified the light and the hardened ground meant we picked up very little mud. Bands of mist among the surrounding hills were not dispersed by the weak sunshine and there were many fine views of this winter landscape during the walk. The walk author left us to check the route to Gomshall and another walker also took a turn for Gomshall before the pub. Four went for a pub lunch, five had picnics. Three of those joined the pub lunchers before setting off again. Two set off to walk to Westcott and pick up a bus there. The 7 pub goers split into three sub groups after lunch and various trains were caught. A very pleasant day.

Many thanks for posting.

Came across two coffee stops on the short route back after lunch at The Wotton Hatch.

https://www.instagram.com/brewbird_box/

https://www.instagram.com/coffee_inthe_copse/

I hadn't expected to post a walk this weekend and this walk was a last minute choice so I was more than a little suprised to see20 walkers turn up. I heard one turned back and hopefully is ok. The rest of us were lucky to have a mild sunny day and there was also lots of shade along the route which was really nice. A few did the 11.5 mile version. Most did the 9 mile route which now passes 2 new cafe in the afternoon. Some stopped at Brew Bird, a cafe set in a private garden which sells very nice home made cakes and home made ice cream. Coffee in the Copse, a little further along the route, is set in a small woodland and had just closed when I got there. All in all, a nice day out.

I think nine emerged from the posted train, one more joined us at Dorking West, two later arrivals caught up by lunch, and late in the walk we met two more who had started earlier, so14 all told on a glorious-spring-day. The majority ate or drank something in the Wotton Hatch where two of our number got the bus as one was feeling under the weather. Three did the afternooon short cut and the rest of us the full walk. The paths were very dry in the morning so we were disappointed to find quite a lot of mud between Logmore Lane and the fishery; if we had been craftier (or read the directions) I think we could have avoided it, but some of us attempted a detour into a field and had to retreat back into the gloop when we couldn't find a way out.

At the Nower we met the two early starters and proceeded down into Dorking, with some stopping for tea and some rushing for the train while I waited for a bus home. There were a few butterflies, early spring flowers and an unexpectedly beautiful day out after recent weather.

a glorious spring day

16 on a fine autumn day with sunshine in the afternoon - 11 were on the posted train; three earlier arrivals plus dog, including one with an afternoon appointment who set off alone; and two more on the delayed London Bridge/Redhill train who met us on the Pilgrim's Way. Most stayed together in the morning and picknicked at St John's Church. When we arrived at the Wotton Hatch the group split with some staying for a drink and then doing the short walk; of the others, six shot off ahead on the full walk and were not seen again. I hear that one of the pub visitors also did the full walk. I don't know if anyone stopped for tea in Dorking. There was beautiful evening-type low sunlight in the afternoon and a few mushrooms to identify.

9 off one train,3 car drivers,1 from nearby station =14 plus dog. All walked main route in spring sunshine , saw chiffchat and brimstone butterflies. Around 5 lunched at Wooton Hatch which was busy, while rest enjoyed picnic in field. Some plus dog went ahead, while picnickers joined others in beer garden. Lunchers were left enjoying their magnificent looking meals. After a rest at the viewpoint at The Nower, in Dorking 2 searched for tea and cakes, while 3 visited a pub that had been good previously but football was starting and some had been there too long already.

This comment has been removed by the author.

Three of us set out from Waterloo and got as far as Clapham Junction where the train was taken out of service. The problem was faulty doors, no surprise really as these trains were due to be replaced by new ones (with toilets) some years ago.

In a few minutes a Portsmouth train passed the same platform and we all jumped aboard, having made an executive decision to do the Milford to Godalming walk instead. The friendly conductor issued us with new tickets and deducted the price we had already paid. More chaos ensued when his machine began issuing 5 or 6 blank tickets for every printed one.

We dodged the showers and decided to make an early lunch stop at the Merry Harriers, often passed but never previously visited (by me anyway). Good decision. The sun came out and we were able to sit in their large rear garden. The food was excellent and the service friendly and speedy.

After lunch we took a shortcut to the arboretum via Hydon's Ball and Juniper valley. Although a bus was imminent, we sensed an improvement in the weather and continued the full walk through newly lush and sunny farmland, catching the 4.51 train.

Just 2 reached Dorking from Victoria and did the advertised walk.

So 5 in sunshine and showers

I have booked a table for 8 at the Wooton Hatch at 12:45. We plan to join near Dorking West. I will phone pub and adjust numbers if there are many more / less of us. John

29 at the station on a delayed train, with a few who missed the group, and 3 drivers at Dorking West, so let's say35 on a misty then mostly cloudy day. Some did the main walk and picnicked. Most stopped near the lunch pub, and ate inside or drank outside. Some who then did the short walk met the picnicers just before Dorking at the temple viewpoint as the light started to fade. A few spots of deep or slippery mud, but mostly fine. Thanks to the poster and author.

How was Battle? Train cancellations?

I'll be arriving at Dorking Deepdene a few minutes ahead of Dorking Mains, but am quite slow, so will set off as I'm sure you will all catch me up v quickly. AT

15 at the station with a 16 th joining at lunch time. A pleasant day for walking starting sunny clouding later Most did the short option but a few struck out for Friday Street. Of course, I was soon left behind but I soldiered on, with a cheerful countenance and a kind word for everyone I met. Never mind, though. As we neared the lunch pub, the rest caught me up again. (I don’t know either, readers - space, time, and maybe a few cows).

Those what ate at the Wotton Hatch liked what they got.

Then we were off again. I was looking forward to racing up the Nower but as I was keeping the walk's author company and he wanted to check out a lower path, I forwent the experience. Various tea-shops were visited on return. I may have had a piece of cake. A sizable proportion caught the 17:07

3 of us stopped for tea at Cake Rider (cafe) in South Street. Highly recommended - delicious cakes and proper leaf tea in china pots.

You are partly right Mr Tiger. The ones you mysteriously overtook had absent-mindedly wandered into a field of cows, but no doubt we lost time because in trying to get back to the route we ended up scrambling up a very steep, crumbly bank in the woods. Tree branches and roots were clung to, among other things.

In the afternoon three of us had a most enjoyable stroll to Friday Street. There was quite a lot of interesting produce on offer at the cottages there, including quails' eggs, but none of us had the right change to purchase any. (The jam seller invited payment by paypal but I didn't know how to do that on my phone.) We wondered about the lower path round the Nower but decided to stick to what we knew.

Anyway, a fine walk, thanks for posting.

Sandy

Very keen on the 14m option.

Waterloo St tube currently closed.

22 (ish). I did not count exactly. There were 15 (ish) on the Waterloo train and I was later informed 7 on the Victoria train. At least 5 did the long walk and a few may have done the short walk for all I know. But most probably did the main walk - split into smaller groups as per regulations, natch.

It is not news that this is a lovely autumn walk with some good woods, some fieldy bits, and fine views in the early stages and at the end. The autumn colours are mostly on the exposed faces: some beeches and Norway maples were a lovely gold. But deep in the woods it is still largely green. On one grassy slope there were dinner plate-sized parasol mushrooms.

The weather was cloudy , but there was some sun around the middle of the day, which was well-timed for those of us who picnicked near the lake at Friday Street. There was not much mud. All in all a cheerful break in these dismal times

https://mailchi.mp/stephanlangton/news-from-the-stephan-langton-inn

See above. Pub currently closed. Landlords have left.

10, I'm told

Belated report - Paul and I decided to run the Dorking circular, rather than walk. We coincided with a sizeable group at Dorking Station (waiting for the one toilet that was open), then ran on. We spotted a solo walker following the route, & met the large group again later on, eventually at the pub near the station. They said they were Ramblers following the SWC route. Not much social distancing going on.

31 on this walk, comprising 24 on the direct train from Victoria, 4 to Dorking Deepdene via Redhill, and three late starters. Among the latter were a couple who I told did the long walk and one of our group did too, but the rest of us, as far as I am aware, did the main walk. I did not hear of any doing the short walk, but if such there were, do file a separate report.

It was a pleasant day of sun and cloud and the ground, while damp, was not at all muddy. The trees are still overwhelmingly green, of course, but there were pleasing bits and pieces of leaf colour. In the woods after Friday Street we also found lots of different species of fungi, with our resident expert pointing out the tiny details that meant the different between sudden death and a delicious meal. My favourite was the stinkhorn, which resembles....but this is a family show, so you will have to Google it.

There was a debate about whether to stop at the Wotton Hatch pub - or rather there was not: I suggested it and everyone ignored me and sailed on past. So we went on to the Stephan Langton which was not at all busy, even rather empty until some other small walking/cycling groups turned up. We all happily ate outside in the sun, while the sandwichistas camped by the pond.

Someone had added lots of steep hills to the woody bit after lunch. The climb up The Nower felt like going up the Matterhorn. Quite a lot of us congregated on the top to enjoy the slivers of view allowed by the trees.

On the way into Dorking we discovered some men picking large bags of hops from ones growing wild by the road. Subliminally inspired by this, no doubt, on arrival in the town centre some went to the pub. I forgot to check in on them later so I don’t know how long they stayed. Myself and nine others ended up in a nice cafe whose name I forgot to check: it had nice cakes and proper china tea pots.

At the station we found the platform crowded, some of our walkers among them, because the 5.07pm train had been cancelled. But the 5.37pm ran on time and deposited us at hideously busy Victoria at 6.30pm. “Too early”, commented one walker, and I agreed, but soon we were parted by the crowd.....

A couple of us had a discussion about the Tillingbourne Waterfall and how to get there.

It's marked on the OS map on the Wotton Estate on the north slopes of Leith Hill, near Friday Street. The Waterfall itself is on private land but can be seen from a footpath.

This could perhaps be added as an optional detour to the walk directions

I found these directions online https://tillingbourne.surreymuseums.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/Tillingbourne-Trail-Wotton-1.pdf

I believe the falls are man made, probably as a water garden in John Evelyn’s day (late 1600’s)

The Tillingbourne Waterfall is indeed man-made; the walk route actually takes you over the water channel that feeds it, on the climb out of Broadmoor. The (rather uninspiring) estate track it's on is about 300-400m off-route from this hamlet and I couldn't find a sensible way of incorporating it into any of the many options on this walk. Also, I didn't think many people would bother to make an out'n'back detour; "worth seeing, but not worth going to see", as Boswell might have said.

Click here for photos of the waterfall and the estate track.

What about a Walk to Kelvedon?

Hi Marc, the Kelvedon Circular walk has just had an outing on 7 April, so it will probably be a while before it gets posted again. Regards

hello asking for some clarity - on the PDF - it says the long version is 11 miles and the shorter version 9 miles - however, this paragraph says 14 and 11? also a few short cuts is the shorter version referring to omitting Friday street? - many thanks

oh you can ignore my comment above!! - I have worked it out - a longer route and a main route - sorry - many thanks!!! Hayley

Ok am doing the 11 miler tomorrow

Seven gathered for formalities on the platform...leaving the question of long or short open....and were joined by two others in the station lobby...making for a total of 9 in humid and cloudy conditions . The group stayed together until the decision point where we split nearly in half, with 4 doing the standard 11 mile route and the other 5 the longer 14 mile route. On the longer route, the terrain was varied and undulating...one enjoyed lunch in the garden of the Abinger Hatch (in a fine mist, under an umbrella) -- lovely food...the other 4 eventually joined for a drink and we set off again together for a roller coaster of an afternoon -- upping and downing all the way to Dorking....where 3 enjoyed some bevies in the Kings Arms on West Street -- a very charming and historic part of Dorking -- before catching the 18:07.

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Weather was ‘a perfect 10’ as one walker succinctly put it with clear skies, strong sunshine, a light breeze and plenty of shade. For the stats sunny and warm

This walk is rather wonderful ( good choice Sean ) and even the numerous steep slopes ( two of them after a rather large and heavy lunch ) were enjoyable, though they were also excruciating for some of us. Curiously steep hills are getting harder you know though as I do them every week they should really get easier.

Some lunched at the Abinger Hatch whilst 8 of us ate at the Stephan Langton where the food was good but the wait was the 'interminable' 55 minutes which was somewhat disappointing.

and then those hills and just in time for tea and very nice homemade cakes for 8 of us at Two Many Cooks.

And onto the station for the train home where some others joined us so most of us stayed together most of the day - as it appens - though I understand that a couple took a bus towards the end and were delighted by the fact that it was free for freedom pass people

15 on the walk

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

Bridie

25-30?, so many I lost the count. Lots came off the train from Victoria which was delayed, we met several at Dorking station who came from Waterloo train arrived earlier, then two more joined enRoute, sunny all day . A lovely day out with nice scenary and autumn colour in sunshine. Several opted for earlier pub lunch at Wotten Hatch. I am told food came very fast and was good. Eleven (one arrived earlier and had already finished when the later party arrived) ate at Stephan Langton, a bit of wait for the food but it was worth the wait, all enjoyed their dishes. We booked a table for 8, but had 10, the pub quickly added a extra table for us, when we left at 2:15pm the place was full, so recommend booking if a large party for the future. We saw ~10-12 walkers (mainly sandwichers who were ahead of us) in a tea room in Dorking but it was full, so eight of us went to another one (can't remember the name) down the road. Tea and cakes lived up to our high expectations. All left just after 5pm, we caught 5:34pm train back to London. A nice day out in good company, and no traffic noise either...

Two at Clapham Junction got the 10.03 train to Dorking as the 9.37 was cancelled. Did the Victoria train not stop at CJ? Didn't see anyone else at Dorking. Decided to do Dorking to Reigate walk instead. This was a lovely walk with countless crossings of the river Mole and lots of autumn colour mainly on the ground. We were enthusiastically shepherded into the church in Betchworth where there was a display of alternative Christmas trees made by local groups - all really inventive. A really enjoyable day

Anyone doing this walk pls?

Probably 10

7 off the train, one of whom vanished inside the station. Plenty of chalkland flowers as we came through Denbies Hillside. The Wotton Hatch was packed – whatever happened to the down to earth boozer I first visited many years ago? Gone the way of the Ploughman's Lunch, that's what.On to the Stephan Langton, where I arrived too late to witness any food consumption, but I did come across the other four walkers, finishing off their coffee and looking very replete. These, the Langton Four, had remarkably clean boots for people who claimed to have been walking. And so back to Dorking. The four soon vanished – back to their cars no doubt! Leaving me to deal with the menacing black labrador at Squires Farm all by myself. This free-range beast‘s forte is snarling , teeth baring, lunging and backing off. And again. No actual biting so maybe my “nice doggy” strategy does work. I didn’t try patting it to find out. When I got nearer Dorking I realised that the bits in italics were easy options allowing me to avoid the final hilly bits. (Did them last year, no need to do them again). cloudy with some light rain and occasional glimpses of the sun

Maybe it's too late to add anything to Ian's excellent report, but one of the "Langton 4" joined three of the initial group for the full afternoon walk, including an encounter with the snarly dog. We only found Costa open for tea in Dorking, but all in all a most enjoyable day in varied countryside.

24 (or 25 by some people's count) walkers on the platform, 2 more at the gate, 3 more at Deepdene station and 1 more that had taken a bus to The Wotton Hatch lunch pub on the short and medium options to start from there, so I make that (at least) 30 walkers, the fastest ones of which finished the walk w/o encountering a single drop of the wet stuff from above, so overcast with sunny spells , I'd say. [The drizzle, then rain, started the moment we had reached Dorking station.]

Relative chaos ensued from the off, as the long walkers sped off, one disciple of The Church Of The Followers Of A Line On A Screen started the walk the wrong way round, all the way to the lunch pub in Wotton, to then re-trace the walk from there with some other medium walkers; one other walker apparently went straight up the first hill "to explore a different route", never to be seen again (not the woman from SW London you're all thinking of); and the majority of the short and medium walkers were never seen again (by us).

8 of the long walkers reconvened at the Abinger Hatch (traditional pub classics menu, very convincingly executed, delivered at fair speed and for decent prices, and the pub was not very busy at all, so: recommended).

Later we overtook (and assembled into our group) said out-the-wrong-way walker, the bus taker and one other. The 15.58 train was narrowly missed...

As for the walk: very nice, plenty of gentle and not so gentle ascents, shaded woods, far views and pretty villages; minimal overlap with other offerings of this great walking club, so a worthy addition to the list, methinks.

Might be a major challenge in muddy conditions, despite various avoidance routes being described in the text...

Oh, and - of course - there was the - by now customary - cameo appearance of the walk author, this time at the Wotton pub.

Two of us lingered over tea in the Stephan Langton, forgetting that the rain was coming. A few drops towards the end of our sojourn reminded us. We got VERY WET on the walk back into Dorking. Still, I expect the drought-stressed plants all around us were very grateful.